# Careto: threat group profile

> Careto is an espionage group thought to operate from Spain, with suspected state backing. Public reporting about it is still limited. This free profile brings together what is known about it, so you can judge the risk to you. It lists the other names the group goes by and links to every public report behind it.

Canonical page: https://www.precursorintelligence.com/threat-actors/careto
Breadcrumb: [Home](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/) > [Threat groups](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/threat-actors) > Careto

## At a glance

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Attack techniques | 0 |
| Countries and victims named | 14 |
| Thought to operate from | Spain |
| Suspected backing | Spain |
| Motive | Espionage |
| Other names | 3 |
| Public reports | 3 |

## Who is Careto?

Careto is an espionage group thought to operate from Spain, with suspected state backing. Public reporting about it is still limited.

### Also known as

The Mask, Mask, Ugly Face

Security companies each give the same group their own name, so one group can have many.

### What public reporting says

> This threat actor targets governments, diplomatic missions, private companies in the energy sector, and academics for espionage purposes. The Mask is an advanced threat actor that has been involved in cyber-espionage operations since at least 2007. The name "Mask" comes from the Spanish slang word "Careto" ("Ugly Face" or “Mask”) which the authors included in some of the malware modules.  More than 380 unique victims in 31 countries have been observed to date.What makes “The Mask” special is the complexity of the toolset used by the attackers. This includes an extremely sophisticated malware, a rootkit, a bootkit, 32-and 64-bit Windows versions, Mac OS X and Linux versions and possibly versions for Android and iPad/iPhone (Apple iOS).

## Who does Careto go after?

**Sectors:** Government, Private sector

**Countries and victims named:** Morocco, France, Libya, Venezuela, Poland, Brazil, Spain, United States, South Africa, Tunisia, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Iran, Germany

See threats by industry: https://www.precursorintelligence.com/industries

## Public reports about Careto

- https://securelist.com/the-caretomask-apt-frequently-asked-questions/58254/
- https://www.cfr.org/interactive/cyber-operations/careto
- https://d2538mqrb7brka.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/43/2018/03/20133638/unveilingthemask_v1.0.pdf

## Frequently asked questions

### Who is Careto?

Careto is an espionage group thought to operate from Spain, with suspected state backing. Public reporting about it is still limited.

### Where is Careto thought to be based?

Public reporting places Careto as operating from Spain, with suspected state backing. Attribution is never certain: it rests on the tools, infrastructure and targets researchers have seen.

### Who does Careto target?

In public reporting, sectors named include government and private sector, and 14 countries and victims are named, including Morocco, France, Libya and Venezuela.

### How do I know if Careto is a risk to my business?

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